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Lisboa, Portugal by Betty Turbo
Corvallis, OR, US
Read More...I lived in Portugal 20 years ago and Lisbon was a city of which I have many fun memories. I'm FINALLY getting back for a visit in a few months, so I'm trying to remember the old (like CENTURIES old) faves, as well as check out all the new things which have appeared in recent years (hello vegan sushi and drag queen cooking classes!). Staying in a 5th floor walkup with no elevator, so I'll be sure to work up an appetite for eleventy million pastéis de nata.
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The Parks and Palaces of Sintra, Portugal by Isabel Valfigueira
Lisbon, PT
Read More...This place is special to me because… it’s an outstanding beautiful place. Sintra is full of extravagant palaces, romantic gardens and parks, beautiful castles. Here we find nature, trees, culture, peace. Amazing place to go for a walk or hiking. And to look for inspiration!
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Algarve, Portugal by Katia Bulbenko
Weehawken, NJ, US
Read More...This place is special to me because it's where we go on vacation every summer to visit my mother-in-law, who moved to the town of Carvoeiro over 20 years ago. Drawing this map, I kept thinking of all the wonderful reasons I love it here. The rocky cove beaches, the amazing azulejos (tiles) covering the outsides of buildings and insides of churches, delicious fresh fish (grilled sardines!), the scent of eucalyptus trees up on Monchique, where you can refill your water bottle directly from the spring, the beautiful doors everywhere, the crystalline turquoise water and deep blue skies, the curious cork trees halfway stripped of their bark, (and shops that sell everything made of cork), the dolphin sightings, the delicious pastry called pastel de nata (custard cups...think flan pie!), the fabulous soaps I bring back, the hill towns and medieval castles. The soulful fado singing. The fields of crooked almond trees, and almond liqueur. The piri-piri hot sauce that I'm obsessed with! A million stars pinned against a clear black night sky. Sooooo many good things. My daughter took her first steps and went to her first beach here, on Praia Grande. The weather is always sunny and perfect, and each time we go it's a combination of visiting all of our favorite places (like Porches, for pottery) and trying new ones. One time we drove to Sagres which is the most southwestern point in Portugal. You can walk out to the tip of the cape, atop tall vertical cliffs, surrounded by water on 3 sides. The place is magical and really feels like the edge of the world. A nearby beach made of smooth black rocks is a good place to watch surfers. The people in the Algarve are so friendly and welcoming, it really is an easy place to just be. By the end of our visit we always realize how this place has taught us to slow down and relax.
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Ericeira, Portugal: Fishing and Surf Village by Isabel Valfigueira
Lisbon, PT
Read More...This place is special to me because this is where I used to spend my summer vacations as a child and teen. I always stayed in my cousin’s house. It was an adorable typical little house. Ericeira is a small and lovely village. Is a very calm, charming, typical fishing town that is situated along a coastline of outstanding surfing beaches. Nowadays, and because of the boom of surf lovers, Ericeira is a nice fusion of Portuguese heritage houses and atmosphere with a cool surfing ambience, where traditional fishermen’s cottages live amongst trendy lounge bars and cafes. The fresh smell of the sea is all over this place. It’s truly just wonderful.
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$8,000 Contest!
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Visit our Mapmakers For Hire page to see dozens of freelance artists and designers who specialize in map illustration.
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RECENTLY ADDED MAPS
UFA city, Bashkortostan, Russia by Katerina
Chicago, Illinois, USThe city where all my memories live. Bashkortostan is beautiful, so are the people I met there. Miss it tremendously, therefore is the map!
Paro, Bhutan by Allison Strine
Roswell, GA, USThis place is special to me because I climbed to the Tiger’s Nest monastery and visited with the monks. It was an arduous, extraordinary journey which will never be forgotten. The town of Paro also features the National Museum of this amazing country, which is filled with friendly people, cows, and dogs everywhere.
The Bustling Riverfront of New Westminster, BC, Canada by Stef Wong
New Westminster, BC, CAThis place is special to me because I live here and frequent all these places of the New West Riverfront regularly. New Westminster is the oldest city in Western Canada. Yellow and blue are its colours. I had fun challenging myself to use a limited colour palette for my first ever illustrated map! Some fun facts:
1. The World’s Tallest Tin Soldier stands at 9.75 meters high.
2. The sculpture at Hyack Square is a reproduction of an iconic photo taken 3. at that intersection during war times in 1940.
4. The chair at Hive Cafe is made (by Hive City) completely of cardboard.
5. Pier Park has won several awards for urban design and even includes a small man-made beach.
6. WOW Westminster is a giant sculpture of the letter W using four shipping containers.
I love living here! It’s historic, tight-knit, and has the charms of both a bigger city and a small town.
A Walk Around Queretaro, Mexico by Tanyha López
Querétaro, Queretaro, MexicoThis place is special to me because I love living and working here, surrounded by the colorful architecture of Downtown Queretaro. I really enjoy going on walks around the beautiful streets and plazas where you can sit and experience the happy atmosphere. Its a place where you find all kinds of activities, from music and film festivals, to museums, theatre and nightlife.
Welcome to Bienne - Xavier by Christiane Junod
Vancouver, BC, CAWelcome to Bienne, a unique Swiss city that is both French and German speaking, and holds the beauty of both water and mountains. Experience a tour of my beloved's city through his 8 year old eyes: all his favourite places in one map! *My first illustrated map, handmade without access to photoshop or any other editing software!*
I Love North Vancouver by Doris Jetz
North Vancouver, British Columbia, CAThis place is special to me because I get to live here! I originally came here from the prairies and was meant to stay for only three months. That was over 20 years ago! I love the mountains, trees, ocean, wildlife...I even love the rain! This place is paradise to me and I can't imagine living anywhere else.
Road Trip Around West Sonoma County by Blair
Sebastopol , California , USThis place is special to me because I grew up driving to these places on the weekend. Each places has memories of delicious food like fresh baked bread, oysters and crab. There are beautiful natural landscapes of redwood forests, rolling golden hills, and views of the sea. These places on this map are the places I take people who visit and are the places I love to show off.
Vienna: A Love Letter to the Film ‘Before Sunrise’ by Tina Devins
Sligo, Sligo, IEThis place is special to me because since watching the film ‘Before Sunrise’ I have always wanted to trace the characters steps in Vienna and discover the magic & beauty of the places. Permission to use ‘Delusion Angel’ poem kindly granted by Mr David Jewell.
The Jordaan, Amsterdam by Jazz Islam
Jeddah, SAThe Jordaan is the oldest &, in my humble opinion, most beautiful part of Amsterdam. It carries so much history, charm & quirky details. The homes here are breathtaking & theres always some interesting art or collectibles in the home windows, which I love!
A Summer in Ålem, Småland by Theresa Grieben
Berlin, Berlin, DEI always dreamt of going to Sweden and the summer before last I had the chance to spend one month as an artist-in-residence in a charming villa in Ålem, a small town between Stockholm and Kalmar in Småland, South Sweden. Almost everyday I took my sketchbook and an old green bicycle to ride around the fields and forests in the company of sheep, cattle, horses and elks. I was especially in love with Strömsrum, a tiny settlement of wooden houses with an idyllic setting over the Alsterå river. I discovered it by chance and was impressed by the large manor house dating from the 17th century, which was entirely made of wood. I went on to Pataholm at the Kalmar Strait coast, which looks like a picture book village taken directly from an Astrid Lindgren novel, with small wooden houses painted in fox red, a dreamy harbor and a charming café. I’ve tried all the bicycle routes, cafés and swimming spots myself and have captured my travel memories with this map – if you ever come to Småland you should have a visit!
